India-Sri Lanka ferry relaunch delayed again due to rough seas, now set for Feb 16

The India-Sri Lanka ferry service, which resumed on October 14, after a 41-year suspension, has faced multiple disruptions due to adverse weather. The latest relaunch, scheduled for February 13, has been postponed again due to rough sea conditions. Subham Ferry Services, which operates the route on behalf of the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), now expects to resume operations on February 16 if weather conditions improve. Since its launch, the service has been suspended at least four times due to gale-force winds and erratic monsoons.

The ferry connects Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu to Kankesanthurai in Jaffna, providing a key maritime link between the two nations. The service was restarted under the joint initiative of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. According to the operator, online tickets will be available a day before the relaunch. The repeated cancellations have caused complications with refunds, affecting both passengers and the ferry company. The ferry is scheduled to operate six days a week, excluding Tuesdays.

Fares for the ferry have been reduced from ₹9,700 to ₹8,500 for a round trip. Passengers are allowed 10 kg of free baggage, with a total baggage allowance of 70 kg, including 23 kg at no extra cost. Onboard facilities have been upgraded, with improved toilets, expanded snack options, fresh milk, coffee, tea, cold beverages, and a duty-free shop offering discounted goods. The older vessel, Shivaganga, will be used for initial operations, with another vessel expected to be added by the end of March. The ferry will depart from Nagapattinam at 7 AM, with the return journey from Kankesanthurai starting at 2 PM. Each trip is expected to last around three hours.

Climate experts have attributed the disruptions to rising ocean temperatures and erratic monsoons in the Gulf of Mannar, which lies between India and Sri Lanka. “The northeast monsoon arrived very late, and its effects are still ongoing. In the coming days, there will likely be unprecedented and accelerated warming in the ocean, which may lead to rougher sea conditions. It is essential to have better vessels that can withstand the challenges posed by the sea,” said ocean expert Dr. Mahesh Rangathanathan.

The ferry service is also seen as a strategic initiative for India, enhancing its maritime presence in Sri Lankan waters. Intelligence sources indicate that it plays a role in monitoring smuggling and infiltration activities in international waters. Additionally, the service is expected to strengthen tourism and cultural ties between the two nations, with travel packages being developed for Indian tourists, including visits to Mannar, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, and Anuradhapura.